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Don’t miss the Manjyu festival and famous Japanese sweets shop中西与三郎（Nakanishi Yosaburou）!

Don’t miss the Manjyu festival and famous Japanese sweets shop中西与三郎（Nakanishi Yosaburou）!

Rin Shrine (林神社) enshrines Jōin RIN (林 浄因) who brought steamed bean-paste buns (Manjyu) from China, and it is located on the ground of Kongo Shrine (漢國神社) in Nara Prefecture. A Manjyu festival is held at Rin Shrine every year on April 19th, the anniversary of Jōin’s death. Japanese confectioners across the country visit the shrine on this day and devote their manjyu for prosperity for confectionery industries. This time I’ll introduce you to the festival and my favorite Japanese sweets shop around the Rin Shrine.

These Japanese sweets represent a red and white stuffed monkey which is called a substitute monkey and you can buy it at 中西与三郎（Nakanishi Yosaburou）in Nara.

身代わり申(Migawari saru) sweets

Higashi (干菓子) is a generic term that refers to dry Japanese sweets.
They are made from Japanese traditional sugar 和三盆糖（Wasanboutou）and arrowroot 吉野葛(Yoshinokuzu).
For more information about 和三盆糖（Wasanboutou）, go to the link below.“Wasanbon” is traditional Japanese sugar!
You can try other sweets like Manju or Bracken-starch Mochi.

中西与三郎（Nakanishi Yosaburou）is a traditional Japanese sweets shop.
They make standard and seasonal sweets.
You can eat it there or buy it as souvenirs to take back home with you.
There is also an online shop. (Japanese text only)中西与三郎（Nakanishi Yosaburou）Web site

Let’s join the Japanese sweets making workshop!

You can join the Japanese sweets making workshop at 中西与三郎（Nakanishi Yosaburou）.
You will make 3 Japanese sweets and you can eat them with green tea at the shop or take them to go.
【A fixed total number】16 people
【time required】about 1 hour
【participation fee】2,160yen
To apply, please visit 中西与三郎（Nakanishi Yosaburou）Web site(Japanese text only)

AUTHOR

I love Japanese folkcraft article, traditional handicrafts and antiques.
I’m seeking the Japanese people’s religious outlooks and its origins that are behind Japanese people’s unique sense and techniques rooted in the ordinary life.